Improvement in barbed-fence materials



L. F. BETTS. Barbed-Pence Material.

Patented Jan. 8,1878.

UNITED SoTATES PATENT QFFIGE.

LEWIS F. BETTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JOSEPH S. DENNIS AND HENRY N. WHEELER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BARBED-FENCE MATERIALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,018, dated January 8, 1878; application filed March 7, 1877.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS F. BETTS, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and. State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Barb-Fences, of which the following is a specification I This invention relates to the manner of securing barbs in place upon fences constructed of flat or strap metal 5 and it consists in inserting the barbs, when flat, in narrow slits cut longitudinally in the material of the fence, and then twisting or bending them in such manner as to form shoulders in the part immediately adjoining the fence metal, such shoulders serving to hold them securely in the slits.

This will be fully understood from the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, when considered. with reference to the subjoined description.

In said drawings, Figure 1 shows a strip of the metal of which the fence is constructed, ready for the insertion of the barbs, while Fig. 2 shows the same with the barbs in place and projecting laterally therefrom. Fig. 3 is atop view, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section, of the fence, the latter giving a side edge view of the barb. Fig. 5 shows the barb-blank before insertion.

Like letters indicatelike parts in all the figures.

A represents the material of the fence. It is perforated at appropriate distances with narrow slits a, wherein the barbs B are inserted. These slits should be no wider than the material of the barb is thick, and no longer than the barb is wide at its central line b, for obvious reasons.

The barbs are inserted fence, and are then twisted or bent in such manner that one or more shoulders, 6, will be formed therein on each side the fence, and in such close proximity thereto as to serve not only as barriers against removal of the barbs from either side, but also to hold them rigid and prevent play in any direction.

In the barb shown in the drawing two of these shoulders are formed on each side the fence-strap, one bending up, the other down; and I recommend such construction as tending to secure greater rigidity than where a less number are used.

It is evident that this method of securing the barbs in the fence affects the integrity of the strap of the fence in a very slight degree, because the slit is so very narrow, and is longitudinal instead of transverse; and also that the barb remains intact at its base or point of attachment, although it may be secured or nicked a little on each side the strap, for the purpose of facilitating the formation of the shoulder therein, without impairin g its strength to any.harmful extent.

I claim as new- The combination, with the strap A of the fence, of barbs inserted in slits a in said strap, and secured in such slits by shoulders formed in the barbs by twisting or bending, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Enw. S. EVARTS, JOHN W. MUNDAY.

centrally in the V 

